(31 Jan 2015, 9:13 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Today's North East Explorer ticket...
#36 - My House to Houghton-le-Spring Church - (09:56 --- 10:14) - GNE 5308 - Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro
The scheduled journey is expected to get to my nearest stop for 09:50 - and this klutzy driver (as I later experienced) seemed to have gotten lost as a result of the diversion. Eventually turned up, and I handed over £10 for my Explorer. He didn't seem to know what an 'Explorer' was...I would have thought all drivers would be up to date with tickets and stuff - apparently not! Nonetheless, 5308 itself was a lot nicer than 5306, which I had on Monday.
#20A - Houghton-le-Spring Church to Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange - (10:15 --- 10:36) - GNE 4946 - Scania L94UA/Wright Solar
Hopped off 5308 and got on 4946 moments before it departed. I don't recall ever being on 4946 prior to today, so it was nice especially because of it's recent repaint.
T&W Metro - Sunderland, Park Lane to Newcastle, Monument - (10:44 --- 11:20) - Metrocars 4047 & 4059
Hopped on and sat in 4047 for the whole of the journey. Things started to get really packed at about Heworth...and we also had to stop at a red signal between East Boldon and Brockley Whins - not very convenient...
#40 - Newcastle, Blackett Street to Wallsend, Interchange - (11:35 --- 12:03) - SNE 12081 - Dennis Trident 2/Alexander Enviro400 Hybrid
First experience of a Walkergate based E400, and I was pretty impressed. Felt very nice and smooth - bit like an Angel B5 in my opinion. Upstairs was deserted for the whole of the journey, so I sat at the front with my headphones in taking in everything around me. Quite impressive for something that rarely escapes the streets of Newcastle.
#22 - Wallsend, Interchange to Newcastle, Market Street - (12:06 --- 12:33) - SNE 22344 - MAN 18.220/Alexander ALX300
Yay! I am a fan of ALX300s, so I was quite happy when I saw this turning around having just gotten off 12081, which had just left for the return journey. I got on and sat at the rear, and we left with only me on lol. Overall, a really great journey as there were no more than a dozen people on at any one time.
#X22 - Newcastle, Haymarket to Regent Centre Metro - (12:45 --- 12:55) - ANE 7528 - Dennis Trident 2/Alexander Enviro400
I've never been a fan of these E400s, mainly because of the refurb. They just don't feel nice inside, bit too furistic for some reason I can't explain. At least it was only 10 minutes, if I'd had it all the way to Ashington I would have gone insane. Some people say the 21s are unbearable - spend 10 minutes on one of these and you'll lose the will to live!!
#X10 - Regent Centre Metro to Newcastle, Haymarket - (13:00 --- 13:09) - ANE 7616 - VDL DB300/Wright Gemini 2
Better than 7528, but I still can't get my head around these MAXs and Sapphires up in Newcastle - they just aren't what I'm used to and I don't like them. The seats are unbearably uncomfortable, and they just aren't nice imo.
#10B - Newcastle, Eldon Square to MetroCentre Interchange - (13:12 --- 13:32) - GNE 6074 - Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2
Not bad, the bus was sounding fine but I could constantly hear two students at the front banging away about who they were banging last night!!
#X66 - MetroCentre Interchange to Gateshead Interchange - (13:34 --- 13:43) - GNE 4944 - Scania L94UA/Wright Solar
I'd been planning a ride on the X66 following the withdrawal of the Artics - and I was lucky too in the fact that I had a journey with hardly any people on!
#27 - Gateshead Interchange to Heworth Metro Interchange - (13:50 --- 14:02) - GNE 5328 - Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro
Never been on 5328 before, and the journey was great apart from a guy who got on on Gateshead High Street who absolutely stank of urine...
T&W Metro - Heworth, Metro to Sunderland, Park Lane - (14:13 --- 14:36) - Metrocars 4070 & 4068
God, how cold is Heworth Metro station?! I was absolutely frozen, and to make everything better the Metro comes absolutely packed. I was standing up until about St. Peters and then got off at Park Lane!
#8 - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange to Chester-le-Street South Burns - (14:53 --- 15:44) - GNE 4901 - Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown
Not a bad bus all in all, but a bunch of girls sitting together being harassed by some kid their age who didn't even know them asking for a sweet made me want to pour him in diesel and light him up...
My mam picked me up in Chester and I was in the house for 16:00. Definitely value for money!
Probably due to a freight train.